Happy Birthday to Dad

Crazy Scrappin' Mommy

My dad had heart bypass surgery yesterday. I have such mixed emotions about this. It is sobering to realize that your parents are not going to be aroound forever. But I was also pissed about it, because what he had fixed was basically a birth defect, something he has lived with for the last 67 years, so why the rush to surgery? He wants all of us to drop everything and rush to the hospital to stand vigil. Well, that is not the way it goes for me and my siblings. We have lives and jobs. It is not easy for me to juggle my kids and husband and a full time job. My sister works nights and has to sleep during the day. My brother runs a tree cutting crew and can't just not be there. My mom is holding a grudge against him for stuff that happened years ago, so she is not coming down to be there until Friday. Meanwhile, the nursing staff is thinking WTF and why is his wife not here? I can really suck being the oldest child. My siblings and I are feeling guilty because we should be there, but in reality, we all are making excuses as to why we can't.

I realize that this isn't all about me, but if he wants us to be there and since he was not in crisis, why couldn't this be scheduled for next week.

Anyway, today is his 67th birthday - what a way to celebrate. I can't get to the hospital, but I sent some balloons from my kids to him, and hopefully Scott can get to the hospital to see him.